Runaway

by B. A. Stretke

  "It doesn't take a genius to put these pieces together," Alrick stated. "We need to protect James and we need to terminate the visitation agreement we made for Augustin with Archie. I will not have some asshole murderer near my son." He added with considerably more anger.

  “Where is James?” Calum asked ignoring most of what Alrick had charged. “Is he still in the mountains?”

  “Bryn said that he’s with Augustin in town at the hotel. He’s been there all day as far as I’m aware.” Flynn told them which just added to their anxiety.

  “I’ll call James home and I’ll present what we have. He needs to know and perhaps he will be able to ease our concerns. He may know more about this than any of us.” Calum stated. All the men in the room nodded in agreement except for Alrick who maintained his skepticism.

  …

  Augustin walked into the bedroom and gathered James’ clothing and sent it out to be laundered. “I left a robe on the bed for you sweetheart. Your clothes should be clean and ready for you within the hour.” He spoke through the bathroom door.

  "Thanks," James answered and Augustin smiled.

  "Meet me in the main room when you're finished, our dinner has arrived," Augustin added before heading for the door.

  “Will do.” Augustin loved the lightness he detected in James’ tone. They were making progress. Augustin knew he had things he needed to tell James, things that had to be brought into the open. He hoped it didn’t rob James of his lightness and burgeoning trust, but he had to know.

  Antoni had set up the dinner and included a nice bottle of champagne for which Augustin was grateful. He was still in just his robe and stood the moment James entered the room looking ravishing in his matching white robe.

  "Come sit with me, sweetheart." Augustin held out his hand and James eagerly took it. He then sat next to him on the sofa as Augustin prepared a plate for him and poured him a flute of champagne. "A gift from Antoni, my guard." He said as he handed the flute to James. "Let us toast to friendship, love, and happiness."

  "Friendship, love and happiness," James repeated and they both drank. Dinner was delicious and Augustin was pleased to watch James enjoying himself. He loved the feeling that taking care of and providing for his beloved gave him.

  They were just finishing up and Antoni had come in to clear away the dishes when Augustin decided it was time to talk to his beloved. Once Antoni had left the room and they were alone, Augustin moved closer to James and reached over to take his hand. He held James’ hand in both of his and just stared at their clasped hands for a few moments.

  “You’ve been very honest with me James about your early life on the Shetland Islands and I want to do the same. There are things in my past that you should know.” He paused for a few breaths before attempting to proceed. It was much harder than he’d anticipated.

  Augustin leaned down and placed a kiss on James' knuckles as he tried to pull his words together. "My grandfather was Master of the Chamberlin Coven when it was first formed. He was a great man with vision and ambition. He made the Coven great and it was respected. When my grandfather died, my father took control because he was the oldest and that is the way of my people."

  Augustin paused again having difficulty getting to the point of this confession. He did what he had to do to protect his people, but still, it caused him pain to recall the horror of those last days. He was pulled from his thoughts when he felt James reach over and cup the side of his face. James turned him so he had to look in his eyes.

  “Whatever this is, whatever is causing you this struggle, can wait. You don’t have to tell me anything right now. I know who you are Augustin, I know everything that I need to know.” James leaned in and kissed him hard and Augustin was tempted to take it further and forget all else.

  Augustin pulled back and pushed the hair away from James’ face. He loved touching James’ hair it was so bright and soft and felt like silk threads when it passed between his fingers. “You need to be aware of my past. There is a shadow upon me that you must understand.” He looked deep into James’ green eyes and he lost it. Oh, fuck it, he surrendered and took ahold of James and began a kiss that entered a new level of voracious in its intensity and demand.

  James wanted his mate so badly he couldn't wait. He knew Augustin was trying to tell him something, probably important, but he needed touch, he needed his mate. They had a lifetime to clear up all the skeletons, for now, he wanted this.

  James separated Augustin's robe and slid his hand inside to hold tight to his hardened cock. It was hot and pulsation in his palm. He smelled his arousal but wasn't sure if Augustin wanted it as bad as he did. He was glad that Augustin was on a razor's edge just as he was.

  Augustin had taken care of him and now it was his turn to return the favor. James felt Augustin moving to position himself over James on the large sofa. James lay back and allowed Augustin to take the lead for now.

  His hands and mouth were masterful and James looked forward to years and years of unspeakable ecstasy. “I love how you make me feel, Augustin, I feel special, valued and important when you touch me and when you look at me.” He hadn’t meant to say that but it burst out as Augustin kissed down his throat and then latched onto one sensitive nipple and bit down.

  "When I look at you my blood burns and my heart aches for you," Augustin responded, his words raspy with emotion and James answered with a sexy moan. James increased the strength of his grip and began a steady rhythm of strokes gradually bringing Augustin to the threshold of his climax.

  Augustin was barely holding on as James’ talented hands brought him to the peak of pleasure. Augustin looked forward to claiming and marking his beloved, but he understood the necessity to go slow and let James proceed at his own pace. With his mind full of the marvelous touch of his beloved, Augustin came covering James’ hand in his warm seed.

  Augustin took the opportunity to sink his fangs back into the mark on James’ neck and drank deeply. He felt his beloved jerk and hiss as he came filling the space between them with his own seed and mixing with Augustin’s. The aroma was pure intoxication.

  They lay quietly for a while, catching their breath and holding each other. Each lost in their own thoughts. It was Augustin who first spoke as he lifted himself from atop James and braced himself on his elbows. “I think you need another shower and I think I will join you.” He stood up and reached out his hand to James.

  James took the offered hand and was abruptly pulled to his feet and engulfed in Augustin's arms. "Already, I adore you," Augustin exclaimed with an indulgent smile and kissed James firm but brief and then pulled him towards the bedroom. They both lost their robes on the way. He couldn't wait to see James all naked, wet and soapy.

  They stayed in the shower enjoying one another until their skin began to shrivel and it was time to get out. Augustin was eagerly looking forward to claiming his beloved. So far, they’d gotten each other off three times through oral stimulation and hands, soon he would bury himself deep within his beloved and complete the claim and seal their bond. He was careful not to push too hard, wanting to make sure every step of their budding relationship was perfect.

  Augustin turned off the water and stepped out grabbing a towel and turning to drape it around his beloved and helped to towel him off before taking care of his own needs. He was determined to show James through words and deeds that he was the most important person in Augustin’s world.

  They returned to the bedroom and Augustin noticed that James’ clothing had been delivered and the champagne had been placed on the bedside table along with two fresh flutes. He would have to thank Antoni later.

  James went straight for his clothes and began to dress. "Thank you for taking care of these." He said as he pulled on his jeans and then grabbed his socks while taking a seat on the edge of the bed.

  "I will always strive to see to your comfort, my beloved." Augustin smiled and gave a mock bow. He was delighted when he heard a quiet, joyful giggle come from of James. He never
thought the man had it in him but Augustin vowed to hear that sound as often as possible.

  Augustin was about to suggest they enjoy another glass of champagne and relax when a cell phone began to ring. He knew it wasn’t his because he’d left it in the outer room. He watched as James moved to where is leather jacket was hanging on the pack of a chair. James reached in and plucked the phone from its inner pocket and immediately answered the call.

  Augustin felt his heart which had been soaring moments ago, drop to his feet as he watched James casually making plans with someone else. Why would he answer his cell phone here, in this place, in the middle of what they were attempting to build? Did it mean nothing to him?

  “Yes, I’ll be there shortly.” James’ statement was the final nail in the coffin of Augustin’s prior joyfulness. James turned to look at him and he thought he detected regret but he couldn’t be sure. He was mentally kicking himself for not going through with it and claiming the man when he had the chance. Now James was going to walk away and the very thought was outrageous, unbelievable.

  “That was Calum, I have to go back to the Lodge. He needs to speak with me.” James’ words were slow and careful. He looked at Augustin with remorse and something else. There was a pleading quality to his tone that asked Augustin to understand, but Augustin did not understand. He was feeling his world shattering as he watched James get dressed, grab his jacket and head for the door.

  James looked back at him. “I’ll call you.” He said and then opened the door and left. Augustin did not speak and did not move. He listened for the opening and closing of the outer door.

  Was his beloved running again, did he do something that made it easy for James to leave? These were the questions that cried through his consciousness as he tried to pull himself back together and comprehend what had just happened.

  CHAPTER SIX

  James was feeling the distance as he drove his bike through town on his way to the Lodge. The further he got from his mate the more his dragon whined and his heart ached. Why did he leave? Why didn’t Augustin say something? These were the questions that were now haunting him.

  He brought his bike to a stop out front of the Lodge and just sat there for a moment. He closed his eyes and brought the image of his mate to his mind. Augustin, he whispered and saw the disappointment and sadness invade the image. He shouldn’t have left, he should have explained further, he should have brought Augustin with him. Augustin, he whispered again and felt his dragon cry mournfully within his mind.

  He would meet with Calum and then go directly back to his mate. His decision made, he got off his bike and walked towards the front of the Lodge. He was surprised to see Alrick on the porch obviously waiting for him. The meeting suddenly took on a worrying aspect. Calum had said that it was urgent and he had to be in attendance but now it seemed that the meeting had become personal.

  “Alrick.” James acknowledged his leader. Alrick nodded and opened the main door.

  “Come, Calum and I need to speak with you.” He said.

  “Did I do something wrong?” James was immediately on the defensive.

  “No, you did nothing wrong.” Alrick went inside and James followed. He tossed his jacket on a chair and continued to follow Alrick into Calum’s office at the back of the Lodge. He was surprised to see no one around. All his fellow warriors were conspicuously absent. This did nothing to calm his nerves.

  He walked into the office and took a speculative look around the room, it was just the three of them. "Sit down," Calum instructed as he took a seat behind his desk and Alrick took the chair to James' right.

  "Information about your mate, Augustin Chamberlin, came to us, it looks credible and I would like to share it with you." Calum began. "We received sketchy accounts from a couple of shifters but because it involves you, I investigated further," Calum told James about the shifters and what was discovered online.

  James listens and although he recognized that some of it sounded suspect, it did not prove anything. "It doesn't say he killed them, just that they died. I know my mate, he is a good man."

  "Donell did further research and he has shown us proof, there is a record of the deaths and their cause as part of a European Council report. It states that both men were killed by Augustin Chamberlin who then took over leadership of the Coven." James noticed that Calum kept his eyes on him and it bothered him that Calum was expecting him to have some sort of breakdown or something.

  James glanced around the room absently as his mind raced with possible explanations for Augustin’s behavior, but nothing came to mind.

  “Did he say anything to you about it?” Calum asked, sympathy dripping from his words.

  "He mentioned that he needed to tell me something about his past. He said that a shadow exists and he wanted to explain. We got sidetracked and he didn't explain further." James took a deep breath and then leaned forward with his forearms on his thighs. The news was shocking, to say the least. He couldn't imagine Augustin as a monster, James knew monsters and Augustin wasn't a monster.

  “I know he’s your mate and this must be unbearable for you, but please I’m asking you to stay here until I can get more information on what actually took place. I don’t want you putting yourself at risk. I’m not saying you can’t take care of yourself, I’m saying he is your mate and that makes you vulnerable.” Calum urged and Alrick supported his request.

  James could not speak, he was in such an emotional knot that words would not form. He stood and nodded to both and then left the room. They both looked sad and James could not handle their pity, not right now.

  James stormed through the kitchen and noticed Bryn out of the corner of his eye but did not stop. He tore up the stairs and locked himself in his room. It may be a juvenile reaction, but it was what he needed. He needed to be alone to process what Calum had told him.

  He kicked his desk chair across the room and flopped down on his bed. It was too much, the things that Calum said and the man that James knew did not go together. He wanted to talk to Augustin but he needed to figure this out first. His Clan believed that Augustin was a psychotic killer or something akin to and he couldn’t leave it like that.

  Augustin’s his mate and he must work this out. He felt a familiar urge to run surge during the office meeting but he managed to stay seated and listened. Once again, he was feeling that urge but his dragon was not on board. His dragon was pushing him to go back to his mate. He stayed in his room for the remainder of the night unwilling to speak with anyone.

  …

  Augustin waited, all night he waited and when the sun rose he still had not heard from his beloved. They’d exchanged personal cell numbers, James could call or text if he wanted to, obviously, he didn’t want to.

  He paced the room growing more agitated by the second. Finally, he could wait no longer and made the first move. He sent James a short text and just asked if he were alright. He needed to know that he was well.

  “Yes.” The one-word response was immediate, cool and condensed like it was flash frozen. Augustin felt the distance and bristled at the abrupt dismissal. He decided not to respond and then James sent another text, longer but not warmer. "I’ll meet you at the hotel this afternoon.”

  Augustin read the text and then tossed his phone on the bed. There was no need to respond, James wasn’t looking for conversation. He would wait a little longer, but then he was going after his beloved. James was not going to run from him again. Whatever the problem, whatever the urgency at the Lodge, it would be dealt with and Augustin would bring his beloved home.

  Augustin picked up his phone and read again the terse responses from his beloved. He then threw the phone against the opposite wall and watched it smash, he was tired of looking at the insufferable device. He then went out to speak with his guards.

  James stared at his phone for a good fifteen minutes waiting for Augustin to text him back, but there was nothing. He was hurting Augustin, he could feel it, but he didn’t know what to do. If the repo
rts were true, what did that make Augustin?

  He could have easily dismissed the shifter tales and even the ambiguous death reports, but the European Council kept accurate records. The Council was now disbanded but in its day, it was all knowing, if they said he killed his father and uncle then he did. James’ thoughts were interrupted by a knock at his door and Bryn stating. “Let me in.”

  “Go away.” He was still being immature and he didn’t care.

  "Open this fucking door or I'll take it down," Bryn stated the threat so calmly that it sent a chill through James. James got up and unlocked his door. Bryn pushed it open and strode in like he owned the place. "So why are you hiding up here like a little baby boy?" Bryn walked over and picked up the chair James had kicked into the corner and righted it. He then sat down.

  James closed the door and took a seat on the edge of his bed. James filled him in on all that had transpired. He told him everything that Calum had said. “Calum didn’t tell you?” He asked.

  “No, he probably wanted to keep it to as few as possible until the report could be supported. Also, I’ve been out most of the day. I caught a scent last night that intrigued me but I haven’t been able to find the source.” Bryn flashed a wicked smile and winked at James.

  “You think it’s your mate.”

  “I hope so.”

  Talk of mates brought James’ pain back full force. “My mate may have killed his own father to secure power over his coven.” He just threw that out there.

  "You spent the day with your mate," Bryn stated and James nodded not sure where he was going. "Did he claim you?"

  “No.”

  "Did he make you, at any time, uncomfortable or try to force you to do anything you didn't want to do?" Bryn asked and kept his gaze laser-focused on James.

  “No.”

  “Did he provide for you, food, rest, care?”